terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl 
ˈte-rə-
1
: extremely bad: such as
a
: notably unattractive or objectionable
terrible behavior
b
: of very poor quality
a terrible movie
c
: strongly repulsive : obnoxious
a terrible smell
2
a
: difficult
in a terrible bind
b
: formidable in nature : awesome
a terrible responsibility
c
: exciting extreme alarm or intense fear : terrifying
terribleness
noun
Examples of terrible in a Sentence
Traffic was held up by a terrible accident.
I have a terrible cold.
The service at that restaurant is terrible.
Recent Examples on the Web
Weeks of terrible weather this year have also caused damage estimated at well over a billion euros in southern Italy, including a landslide that has forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate their homes in the Sicilian town of Niscemi.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Amanda’s mother seems to activate when given the chance to paint at a nursing home, an aseptic and terrible place for which everyone in the family seems to be awkwardly auditioning.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
Buckley had to bring not only the instant chemistry Agnes experiences on first meeting Will, but also the birth experience, and then terrible death of her young son Hamnet, played by Jacobi Jupe.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
All throughout the film, there are images of terrible things being done to other creatures, as if to express the humans’ futile attempts to tamp down their natural urges.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Amanda’s mother seems to activate when given the chance to paint at a nursing home, an aseptic and terrible place for which everyone in the family seems to be awkwardly auditioning.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
Buckley had to bring not only the instant chemistry Agnes experiences on first meeting Will, but also the birth experience, and then terrible death of her young son Hamnet, played by Jacobi Jupe.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
All throughout the film, there are images of terrible things being done to other creatures, as if to express the humans’ futile attempts to tamp down their natural urges.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrible. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl
2
a
: very great in degree
made a terrible mess
a terrible cold
b
: very bad in quality
terrible music
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
